Bell RS-1 Cataclysm Helmet The Bell RS-1 Cataclysm Helmet has a depth of graphics from the bold points to the background gothic inspired paisley. The helmet has a gloss finish but the points have an added reflectivity that makes those elements pop from the background. All in all, a very cool graphic. The all-new Bell RS-1 Helmets bridge the gap between the Bell Star and the Vortex with an amazing blend of price and performance. Perfect for the aggressive sport rider, this helmet will take you from street to track and back again all the while providing functionality that will make your ride a pleasure. All told, its one great helmet at a modest price. Features Snell M2010 Certification Velocity Flow Ventilation Super Stable Aerodynamic Signature 3Mode Shield - Lock, Ratchet, Crack ClickRelease Shield Mechanism NutraFog II Anti Fog Coating Kevlar/Fiberglass Shell Contour Cut Cheekpads Removable/Washable Liner Agion (R) Antibacterial Liner MagnaFusion Strap Keeper Five-year Warranty Helmet comes with clear face shield

I bought this for when (not if) I have an off as well as my primary riding/learning helmet. Comfort was a big factor and so was the epic Shattered graphic I got.

I do find this helmet very comfortable and it fits me perfectly.

I did try an L initially but my 59.5cm head had a horrid time in the L size, giving me a blistering headache from multiple pressure points within minutes. I put on an XL and it was the most comfortable helmet I had ever tried.

It is very easy to remove the liners, face shield, breath guard (against face shield) and to stick in headphones.

I do not find it heavy compared to some other helmets I've tried.

Riding around on my ninja I have fairly good vision and I can see fairly well behind me with a shoulder check without turning my whole torso so visibility is very good too.

I would say that even though this helmet does have a very steep price point, it is worth every penny when it save you from a concussion or broken neck or cracked skull. You get what you pay for in helmets. Your head should be the most important part of your body to protect.

And remember, what you skimp on protecting is what you can afford to live without.

On another note, the faceshield has a bunch of teeth to open at 10 or 15 different levels (and is very sturdy), there are 4 well defined openings, cracked to defog, 1st is slightly open, 2nd is half open and 3rd is full open.

Make sure to check out my video as I give a quick a quick look at this Bell RS-1 helmet, Alpinestars SP-1 gloves and a Deltran Battery Tender Jr.)

These gloves are "half-gauntlet" meaning they reach a third of the way up my arm (1/3 of the way between wrist and elbow). They are VERY comfortable thanks to the polyester inside liner and the foam covering the inside of the carbon fiber knuckles.

I gave the gloves "good" for comfort as opposed to "excelent" because they do need to be broken in. On my new pair, my thumb has a bit of wiggle room whereas my brothers gloves (also SP-1's) do not and his have been used for one season. I would recommend wearing these while watching a movie or something just to get them ready for the riding season.

They are very easy to slip on and off even with another hand gloved and the triple locking mechanism is easy to operate and very secure. You get a velcro strap over the wrist to hold the glove on then a little further away from the wrist (and fingers) you get the wrist brace that loops over the glove from both sides.

The airflow is good with ventilation holes between the fingers and what appear to be ventilation holes on the tips of the fingers as well. I have worn these as winter gloves while walking about in -6*C and they kept my hands at a neutural temperature and did not get hot while on transit or wearing around the house to break them in.

These are great gloves and are worth every penny!

(Check out my video, I give a quick a quick look at my Bell RS-1 helmet, these Alpinestars SP-1 gloves and a Deltran Battery Tender Jr.)

Forcefield Back Protector Pro Sub 4 The Forcefield Back Protector Pro Sub 4 is the worlds first Motorcycle back protector to transmit less than 4kn when subjected to the standard CE test. The Pro Sub 4 has been specifically designed to test at under 4kn when subjected to the standard CE test EN1621-2. Independent testing by SATRA shows a mean test result of 3.38kn transmitted energy, making it the first motorcycle back protector in the world to attain this level of performance. Constructed with a removable and washable outer cover to give the rider the ability to keep the back protector clean and hygienic , it also makes the protector more flexible as it is not bonded at the edges, this in turn makes it more comfortable to wear, a prime consideration in the design process of any Forcefield product. As with all Forcefield Body Armour the Pro Sub 4 has RPT (Repeat Performance Technology) ensuring continued and consistent protection even after multiple impacts. Features The World's first Motorcycle back protector to transmit less than 4kn when subjected to the CE test EN1621-2 (Level 2) Removable and washable outer cover CE Level 2 Rated Protection RPT (Repeat Performance Technology) Comfortable and non restrictive Flexible Breathable Moulds to body shape Adjustable waist and shoulder straps Multi Sport use Read more about this product in this WebBikeWorld.com Review

Close up / kidney protector folder over. It's quite thin but may help...

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Back side

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Kidney adjustment strap

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Vlecro on inside, the circles are ventilation holes, they go through all the layers

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The layers, quite a few of them. The most outward facing one is a harder plastic shell. The two gray ones are cloth-mesh, the rest are foam.

I wore this back protector for 6 hours straight after receiving it. I wore it while driving my car to test its comfort and it did very, very well. My only gripe is that it did leave my back somewhat wet after wearing it under a fleece jacket, but it was against a cloth car seat for most of the time and it was not in its intended usage conditions (on a bike going street/highway speeds).

I did not feel the back protector anymore after 10 minutes and a 15 minute sit on my bike was very comfy, both in a full tuck and a fully upright position (on the Ninja 500).

The protector is fully adjustable on the shoulder straps, the waist strap and the kidney straps add that extra adjustability to make the protector nice and snug.

The $190 price tag may seem like too much for a back protector but it is worth it since this protector is a multi-use one, so it will last through many offs. This would more than offset the cost of buying and buying and re-buying other single use protectors.

The pictures in my review may not be the same thing that you will get from RevZilla since I got my protector from elsewhere, sorry RZ :(

Alpinestars S-MX 5 Boot The S-MX 5 has been created as a performance road and track boot, incorporating the latest technical footwear design and material know-how. Following on from the other performance boots in the Alpinestars range, the S-MX 5 is notable for its comfort, hugging fit, safety performance and ease of adjustability. Features Durable, high-tech micro-fiber upper construction offering a high level of flexibility Double injected PU shields the shin, ankle, calf, toe and heel from impact while minimizing abrasion Inner protection is given by a double injected panel connected to the heel counter, hidden beneath the outer shell and running up the outer ankle Quick drying polyamide lining is laminated with open cell foam and high density contoured padding to absorb shocks to the foot area The S-MX 5 boot is CE certified Innovative air vents at the ankle, heel and forefoot are covered with a specially designed mesh to provide unmatched levels of rider comfort Large throat profile instep and Achilles flex bellows for superior flex and comfort MTP mesh liner and anatomical, removable, PU Foam foot bed keeps the foot cool and comfortable A fully vented version is also available in Black Innovative inner (medial) side entry opening/closure system that features an elastic mounted zipper with an extra wide Velcro flap, to give a precise, comfortable fit and wide opening aperture for ease of access Highly ergonomic, lasting for ultra precise fit Exclusive compound rubber sole features structured shank reinforcement for added support to the arch area Interchangeable bi-injected PU toe slider with snap-in assembly

I bought these boots as my first pair of motorcycling boots and wow am I impressed.

The first time getting them on was a bit of a pain and it took a bit of encouraging.

I normally wear a 10/10.5 US but I got size 43EU (9 US). I have worn these for 6 hours straight after receiving them and another 9 hours the following day and have not had any discomfort with them. The shin protection also appears to be good enough to protect against injuries from footpegs/shifters/frames in the event of a lowside.

They also look good enough to wear to work and if you take off the toe sliders, people will have a very hard time telling what they are.

I strongly recommend these boots to anyone looking to get into motorcycling.